Locking means fob automobiles



Dec. 11, 1928.

W. HEMINGWAY. JR

LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet D Q HH JM a N Nmw 3 m @NN NN awn.

INVENTO ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1928.

W. HEMINGWAY. JR

LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 u tw INVENTORfY A TTORNE Y w. HEMI NGWAY. JR

LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES Decvll, 1928. 4 K 1,694,382

Filed-Feb. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIII'.III

I v INVENTOR B f A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFEF-ICEj.

WILSON HEMINGWAY, .13.,on7fmnrin0sn PABKQPENNSYLVAN'IA, ASSIGNOR'TO THE ELECTROLOCK'MANUFAOTURING COMPANY, on .VICKSBURQQMISSISSIPPI, A con- POBATION or .MISSISSIIPIPI.-

Looxnw MEANS Fen nmrom'omnns.

Application tiled- February 26,1927; Serial m1; 171, 79;

My invention relates to locking: means for automobiles and although it-has been designed particularly for use in Iconneetion with Ford automobiles the principle involvedin its construction may be employed in looks applied to automobiles f vother makes and of other construction v The invention has {for its object gene-rally to provide means whereliywhen lflieicar is stopped the battery or the magn'etmwhichever may have been in use inoperating the cur, may not. be disconnected and its operation discontinued without. simultaneously with such disconnection operating a locking means whereby operation of the carexcept by someone having akey 1s prevented,

' It also is an objectof the invention-toprovide a. locking device having means whereby when the lock 1s in? locked position the. coils 1 employedas a partof the ignition system are looked against removal.

All()t'llQI-Ol.)j60t of the in,\;ention.-is-=to prn ride a loekingmeans of extremely simple"; character-but of novel construction, \\'hie h f. may bemanufacturedand applied to cars 'at a minimum of expense hut, wit h'high efiieienry in the prevention (it-theft;

I shall not undertake here to point/Out all of the various ohjec-tsand advantages inci (lent to n'iyinvention-hut additional objects and advantages will he set fortli'in the de- "taileddescription of the invention whieh follows or will he appa rent 'flionfispeli de scription.

In order that-the ll'lVGlIi-lOfl maybe readily e understood and its many pract cal adverb tages fully. appreciated refereiice "may .be

had to the aveoinpanying drawings inw-hich I have illustrated. one conven e t.;form of mechanicalembodiment thereof However, it will he understood that th' intention is er folrms' susr-eptililefot e1nbodime'nt'=-..1n tl of construction than lhatshownj- 'and that various changes in-thedetails'of 'eonstl'ucthin maybe made wit hm thescope-"of the claims without departing from. the principle thereof. I

lock ngm mg ineans fin Inthe drawingsr,. T

' Fig.1 is-a view In sect onal elevationvof a.

construction embodyi11g--the invention, the lock ng means being shown inlocked posi- Fig :i is a viewflimilar to that "shown iii-Fig. 4 but with the operative parts shown therein indifferent position;

l-Fig; 6 is a .view similarxto that h w in Figs. 4 and but with the operativev parts shown therein in different positions; from mental-y portion of the.opei'ativemeelianism shown in F1g..2,j.a portio 'i-of' the; satd -m h:

anism being slioivuin horizontal;- section F g. 8".1s a v ew i-n'perspeetive .of'a -supr vporting j means for the coils. constituting a partv .;'olf the ignition'system; v p e 1Fig.' 9is a view in verticalcentral seetion ofythe right. hand end of the bottom portion of the said-supportingmeans- (havingref-1. erenee toFi'g. .8) and a portion otfthe coil positionjii-itl i'n -the said-box, the elements of the looking ."inea-Iis" bein'o shown in spaced relation to each-"otherjand.. Fig. 10 is a riew"in'transverseseelion taken-on'the line 10,-10'of Fig-r1;

lnthe Id rawingI have shown a easing-1 hi(.-.h. is adapted to be secured tofthefin strument boar (1&3, pnrti'on'of which is indi'bated me other part Of a ear stri'ietur'ei ining, which lock compris.esa' st: 1 I ,cvlinderi 2 within which isn ountedii rotatable element. o f know'n :stjnicturerotation'of which in one direetionis'adapted to be effected by means of a key, indicated by dotted lines at 3. A plate 4 which is generally of segmental shape is secured to the inner end of the rotatable element of the lock and is rotatable therewith. A circular washer plate 5 is located between the plate 4 and the lock structure and rotates with the said plate. The circular edge portion of the plate 4 is provided with a laterally and forwardly extending flange 6 (of arcuate shape) which has a slot 7 therein one edge of which is formed with a couple of notches providing shoulders 8 and 9. The shoulder 9 is located in adjoining relation to the right hand end of the slot 7, having reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings and looking toward the left in said figure, while the shoulder 8 is located about the middle of the said slot. The inner edge of the outer wall of the slot 7 is inclined as indicated at- 10 and 11, the high points of these inclined portions terminatmg at the shoulders 8 and 9. The flange 6 projects into and operates within a slot in the inner end of a releasing plunger 16 which pro'ects through a bearing plug 17 mounted in the front plate 18 of the casing 1 in parallel relation to tie lock. The plug 17 is shielded or protecte by means of a shielding front plate 20 secured permanently, by rivets or otherwise, to the plate 18.

The inner end of the plunger 16 is provided with a crosswise extending pin 21 which extends across the slot 7. A leaf spring 22 is secured at one end to the plate 18. The opposite end thereof is provided with a laterally extending projecting portion 23 which extends into the slot 15 and presses against the bottom thereof and tends to hold the plunger outwardly or toward the front. The pin 21 is provided with an enlarged portion, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which bears against the edge of the forward wall of the slot 7 within the circular flange 6. Rotation of the plate 4 with the flange 6 thereon toward the right (looking toward the left in Fig. 2 of the drawings) is eflFected by means of a key 3. Such rotation is in o osition to a coiled spring 25 one end of whici is fastened to a stationary lug or projection 26 upon a relatively thin annular plate 27 secured upon theinside of the plate 18. The opposite end of the said spring 25 is provided with a hook which engages in a smallopening 28 in the plate 4. The sprin 25 is tensioned so that it exerts pressure tent ing to rotate the plate in an anti-clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the device. When in locked position the intermediate bearing portion of the pin 21 is seated against the left hand end of the slot 7, looking toward the left in Fig. 1. A sheet of insulating material 30 is mounted upon the front side of the plate 4 and supports a spring contact 31 which is curved as indicated. The contact spring 31 is secured to the insulating sheet 30 by rivets 32 at points intermediate its ends, as is clearly shown in the drawings. One end 33 of the spring is located in alinement with the axis of the rotatable element of the lock and is at all times in contact with the inner end of a binding post 34 which is mounted and supported upon a block of insulating material 35 which is secured to and supported upon the inner side of the bottom or rear cnd'of the casing 1. The opposite end 15 of the spring contact is adapted to engage with the inner ends of the binding posts 40 and 41 which likewise are mounted and supported upon the block 35 of insulating. material. These binding posts extend rearwardly through open ings in the rear or bottom wall of the casing 1, which openings are of greater diameter than the binding posts so that the latter do not contact with the edges hereof.

When the rotatable element of the lock is turned in aclockwise direction by the key 3 the end 45 of the spring contact member 31 moves toward the right. sliding over and in contact with the front'surface of the insulating block-35, and as it travels'toward the right it first contacts with the front end of the binding post 40. This occurs just as the intermediate portion'of the cross pin 21 sna s into the notch and into engagement with tie shoulder 8. The binding post 40 is connected by means of a conductor 46 to the positive side of a battery indicated at 47, the opposite side of which is grounded. Further clockwise rotative movement of the rotatable element of the lock causes further movement of the spring contact plate 31 to carry the end 45 thereof into engagement with the inner end of the binding post 41 which is connected by means of a conductor or connecting wire 50 with one side of a magneto indicated at 51. the opposite side of which is grounded as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. As the end 45 of the curved spring contact plate 31 contacts with the inner end of the binding post 41 the intermediate portion of the cross in 21 moves into engagement with the shou der 9 of the slot7 previously referred to. Engagement of the intermediate portion of the pin 21 with the shoulders 8 and 9 prevents return or anti-clockwise rotary movement of the rotatable element of the lock and the parts carried and controlled thereby until the same shall have been released by an inward movement of the plunger 16. Such inward movement may be effected by pushing the plunger 16 inwardly so asto disengage the pin 21 from the shoulders. When this occurs the spring 25 causes the plate 4 and the parts connected thereby to snap quickly back into the initial or locked positionwith the pin 21 in engagement with the end of the slot at the lower end of the flange 6.

A metal plate is secured to the sheet 3Q of. insulating material andis provided with :1 depending tongue-like, portion .56 provided with aihole adjoining the lower end thereof. The upper and outer hooked end of a wire 57 engages the, said hole and extends. outwardh}- through sin-opening 58in a side-.ot the. casing 1 and is eonneeted at its opposite. end to ulocking plunger 60 which iszada-pted to lock the holder or support for the coils 6] in position; within the. coil box .(i2..-.-The wire. 57 is of such size or diameter that. it). is more or less flexible. [i

The casing 1- is provided with ashort tu .bular section 63 through whichtho-portion of the wire '57 :ulj'aeent the, casingextends. Mounted withmlhe tubular section (iii-Lisa plug (it-to which is secured-theforward end of a small tube tl rough which the wire .37 extends. .The opposite. end of. the tuhe fitiv ":is conneete-(l to a- .plug within a tubularsection-TI within the opposite-end. ofwhich the s. l idii ljl e :plunger "60' is mounted. The

plug 70. is permanently secured within the tubular SQf'tiOn 7 1 in anydesired known.

manner. A, coiled spring: 72 isloea-tecl witht in the. tubular section* 71 llltelllltdlilteihfl pluhgerfiqnnd the. p1ug70. The said spring 72 tends to expand andtdhold the plunger 60 in proj e'eted relation to the adjoin in 1 end in the outer end of the tubularfseetion 03 I whilethe. opposite end thereof projetts into and is. seeured-Iwithin the forward end ;por.-z tion of the tubular section 71. The opposite ends the coil 73' contact-with" the-plugs (i4 and 7Q preriouslyreferredjto;

. 'lherearor outer endof the .tulmIarsection 'F-I -i'iimided with a. transversely; ex-

tending jtubulzir head 75 wlnchy-is pepmanently' secured thereto, Thelinn'er fside ot -t,he't'ubula r head ,7?) is provided: with an fopjeningr 76 through which the... projeetingfl reT i a nietall'i sheet 81-;islseeured, .while Qt-he .u 'ifierside thereof (thus hajr 82gisjseci ed; said bus-liar;l eing prmii(led witlrstrnclcgup portions atjutexvals whiehflconst-itute .spring- .eontaets for eooneratingjwith coilsBI-previously refer-red' to. The tubular] duredrnd portion- TT-fof th lo 'kinfr. plunger "(i0 is ;a.tlapte'd. to project. .The. tubular" t m'inal.- hcad .po.rtion 75 adaptedf.t0: =.b (;zv

T8 seeurcd";-to the bottom of. the 'holderfi for placed. over 'a. 'jprojecting.tubular port-io the-"eoilsv (ii The: bottom-mt thisdiolder comprises a relatively "thick "sheet of. ee tri'ematerial, to the =undersld'ezofiw ich memberor seetion 78 provide-dpllpoii its upper or-mner end witha flange 84 'whlchzls .eatedIat 97. hen th located between the insulating sheet 80 a d thcmetal sheet 81 and seznredj to the former I as shown. .The tubular member or section 78 which projects downwardly from the bot,

SU'of insulating. .nmterialh The plug 89 is' located concentrically:ot-lthe tubular member or section T8. The; lower endof theplug 89 below the screw.:th'ren ded portion 88 is provided with an enlarged openinmas indiouted, through which .the fastening screw bolt 87 extends. lVhen the plunger 77 is in Hrojeeted position as shownzin Fig. l of the 'rawrngs iteontu'cts with-the side of theplug 89.. The up'peror inner end of the" plug 89 is secured to and in contact with the bus bar 82 previously referred to. The latter is connected to, .thoupper or inside surface of the insulating sheet 80h) means of rivets 90.

The central,portionofthe bottom otithe coilv b0. 62 is cut away sous tolprovide,

flanges, as indicated at 91, npo'n whieh the.

bottom of the holder rests'amtby means of which the holder is supported within the said box. Y I i A binding post connected iviththe bus bin- 82, preyiouslyreferred-to; Thev said binding post extendsthrouuh thebottom 'of the coil holder,- and to its .oilter orlower end oni'r-endof-a eondnetor 9 opposite. endof whit-11 i I 'nneeted to the binding postfl't previously referred 1o.

As has been stated-falready; the end 33 of the spring contactlilate 211 is at all times in contact-with the inner-m1 front, endof the binding post 34, ,andnsjhas also been pointed out. the opposite end of thesaid eontnei' plate.

is adaptedto contact iitl i theinner or front ends of the binding posts, 40am Hi1. These .last two binding-posts are so located that the springv Contact. contacts. or; .en guigesfirst;

with the binding-post 10. which is r-onneetml with the; battery- .47. and niio nfiu'ther morementeonta s-onengag w th the nner or frontvcnilohe .liiudm post thewln ehas nccted with.on"e;si,il c ofthe .ninsrneto 51.

. The-tubular seotio n 't'l is grounded as ind taet with the. plug 89 it will he: 1min rent that the coils 61are g ronmled.through the. bus

but 82,. the pluq R9. plunger Gil: and tuhular section 7L When the ear .is in operation.

and when-the rotatable element of the lock 5; connected the.

plural-er (fin-is in eon- .has been stated alreadr is electricall (ou sheet 81 secured has been turned into positionto cause the cross pin 21 to engage either the shoulder 8 or the shoulder 9 of the arc'uate-shaped flange 6. the plunger 60 is withdrawn into the tubular section 71 into position out of contact with the plug 89.

When the tubular section 71 is in position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings it lies between and in contact with ridges 100 formed by the crimpim or bending of the metal to the under side of the sheet 80 of insulation. The presence of these ridges prevents rotation or turning of the tubular section 71 about the tubular projecting section 78. Cooperating with these ridges to prevent such rotation or turning is a lug or projection 101 which extends laterally from the tubular section 78 and pro'ects through a slot 102 formed in the edge 0 the open end of the tubular terminal head 75.

The holder of the coils 61 is sup orted upon the flanges 91 of the box 62 mt contacts 103 of the coils in contactual relation with the spring contacts 83 previously referred to. The holder is provided with spaced upwardly extending sheet metal portions or walls 105 which extend transversely of the holder and transversely of the coil box 02 when the holder is in place therein. The upper edges of these two metal plates 105 are provided upon opposite sides thereof with angle members 106 the bottom horizon tal flanges of which extend over the adjoining end portions of the coils 51. This relationship is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The distance between the upright plates 105 is substantially equal to that of the combined widthsof two coils. The space upon the bottom of the holder outside of the plates 105 is of a width substantially equal to the width of a coil. When the holder is placed within a coil box 62 and when the holder is locked in position by the projecting end of the plunger 60 as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings it is quite apparent that it cannot be removed and it also is quite apparentthat the coils 61 cannot be removed because they are held against removal b the overlying horizontal flanges of the ang e members 106. i A plate 107 extends transversely of the plates 105 and is secured to one edge of each of the said plates by 'means'of the bent lugs 108 which extend through slots 109 through the said plate. The upper edge portion of the said plate 107- is bent laterally, as indi rated at 110, so that when the holder is in place within the coil box 62 the edge of the laterally bent portion 110 contacts with the adjoining side of the said box and presses the holder together with the coils supported thereby toward the opposite side 0 the coil box so that the contacts upon the sides of the coils may be held in contact with the contacts, indicated by broken circular lines while the opposite ends of the conductors 114 are connected to the spark plugs 117 grounded as indicated at 118. The connections between the coils, the timing device and the spark plugs and the construction and operation of the two latter will not be referred to or described more in detail because these connections and these parts are of usual construction and constitute no part of the present invention.

It has been pointed out that the conductor 90 is connected atits rear end to the binding post- 95 which latter is connected to the bus bar 82, and that the opposite or front end of the conductor 96 is connected to the hind-post 34 with which one end 33 of the spring contact member 31 is at all times in contact. The opposite end of the spring contact member 31 is adapted to contact either with the binding post 10 or with the binding post 41. It is apparent, therefore, that the coils 61, timing device and spark plug may be placed in circuit either with the battery 47 or with the magneto 51.

When it is desired to start a car provided with a locking means embodying my invention the operator inserts a key 3 into the lock and turns the rotatable element thereof in a clockwise direction so as to cause the end of the spring contact member 31 to contact with the binding post 40. Such rotary movement of the rotatable element of the lock causes a like movement of the member which is mounted upon the sheet 30 of insulating material to move in a like direction, the outer end of the tongue portion 56 thereof moving in the arc of a circle. The latter being connected with the end of the wire 57 the said wire is caused to move longitudinally to withdraw the plunger to rock the contact between the projecting end of the said plunger and the plug 89. When this contact is broken the connection of the coils 61 to ground at 97 is also broken. After having started the car rotation of the rotatable element of the lock may be continued so as to cause the end 45 of the spring contact member 31 to contact with the terminal post 41, the magneto as a result then being placed in circuit with the ignition system of the our operating means. lVhen the (-a r is stopped the circuits from the magneto and from the battery may be 0 ened and the car locked merely by pushing t 1e plunger 10 inwardly so as to disengage the cross pin 21 from either the shoulder 9 or the shoulder 8, as the case may be, whereupon the spring 25 operates to return the rotary element of the lock with the parts carried thereby to initial position, in which position the end 45 of the contact 31 occupies the position shown car to be started. Be'causejo'f the grounding of thecoils and otherparts'of the ignition? system at 97 current cannot be caused to' flow either from the inagnetoor from the battery through the said. coils. It is apparentjhat if the plunger be in contact with thetplug" 89 any currcntwhich might be carriedtofthe, bus bar 82 through the binding -post would flow from the latter, not through" the coils GL'but through the plug 89 and thence to the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent 1s r 1 Locking means-forignition'mechanism, 30

comprising, in combination, coils, a holder for said coils, a container for .theysaidholder, locking means for protecting the said, holder against removal from the said box, a switch for opening and closing the circuit, ofsaid ignition ,mechanism, an actuatable' element for locking said switch inopenjpositiomgand a connection between "said looki'ng'ielement and said locking. means whereby'upon moyc- I ment of said-locking element into locking position the locking locking position. Y

2. Locking-means for ignition mechan sm, com-prising, in combination, a key 'actuatable rotatable means, alocking plunerglocated a d stance from ,the 'said. rotateib 7 means interposed between thevsaid rotatable means and "the said; lunger whereby-upon actuation of .the-sai "rotatable= -me'ans;the said plunger. is actuated, coils a' holder for means is movedinto the--. said coils, means for securingthe said coils within the said holder, 'andj-means whereby actuation of the said plunger operates t0 lock thesaidfho'lder.inposition o -to permit removal thereof.

Leaking means for ignition systems,-

com rising, in combination, coils, a coil box, aho der for' the coils adapted to "be inserted I hi terminals of the said coils :when'ithezsa d i into and removedfrom the" saidjbox witw the coils :therein, means for preventing the removal- "of-the said-- coils from the holder whilefthe latter is, in the -box,lockin means forlocking the said holder in the said agbox, and means for grounding thepositi-ve terme'ans is in locked position.

16 me ns;

4. Locking means for the ignition system of an automobile, comprising in combination, coils, a holder for said co1is,'a box within which the said holder is adapted to be mounted, the said holder having means whereby the said coils may notfibe removed when the holder. is in the, said box, means for locking the said holder againstremoyal from" the said. box, and ineans'for' grounding the positive terminals of the said-coils whenthe locking means is .in locked position.

5. Locking means for the ignition system of an automobile, compr1s1ng,'in combina tion, two sources of electrical current, coils,

a box for the 'said coils, locliing meansforlocking the said coils;-againstlremoval from the said box, the said lockingmeans'compris inga rotatable elcment,a plunger,' meaiis ini terposed between the said rotatable element;

and the said plunger"wherebyflpon rota-f 'tion of theiormer actuation-ofthe' seid plunger is eiie'cted to'eilect move'incnt-there ment' and actuated thereby for -.'connecting either of the said sourceso'f electric current ignition system .ofan automobile,:'compris-- ing,: in combination, two sources of elect'ri-ct of into locking andunlockingpositions and means mounted uponthe-sa d"rotatable:ele

current, coils, adapted to be i ncludedsin ,ci'r-= euit with either of saidzsource's, locking;

means for locking the said coils in position, said locking means including afi-k'ey actuated movable elementand: a plunger, and meansvinterposed between the said element and. the

said plunger whereby upon actuation ofth said element to cause nove'inent' thereof.

movement of the said plunger into and but of locking pos'it ion i'sefi ected, andxnieans' carriedby the said movable element which mcans-1s adapt ed toi'connect' either-.ofthe .'7. Locking and controlling. means for the,

said sources ofa'elect-ric current in-cir cuit, with 'thG"Sald'C01lS Ill) ignition system of aim-automobile,--oompris ing, in combinat on, two sources .of' electric current,- 00315 which are adaptedto be con-w.

nec'ted injci rcuit with *eitherotsaid sources,- a boxqfor the said: coils, means tor-locking the-said coils within said b o x,said meansin; eluding a key actuatable element and ;a lun ger, and means interposed-betweensai ;=;e'le-.

' --mcnt andthe said plunger. whereby actuaation of the said element-causes.movementvoi said plunger into-v and outo'flocking.posh tion, and means for grounding-the-positive,

plunger is in locking position, a

current, coils adapted. b connected in cir-,, cuit with either of sa d 'sourc e's, a. -b .ox.;fo1

coils in place within said box to prevent removal thereof which includes a key actuated rotatable element, a locking device, and means interposed between the said element and the said locking device whereby rotation of the former o crates to move the latter into and out of ocking position, means operated upon actuation of the said element to connect either of the said sources of electric current in circuit with the said coils, and means tending to hold the said device in locked position.

9. Locking and controlling means for the ignition system of an automobile, comprising, in combination, coils, a supporting holder for the said coils, a box for the said holder, the said holder bein provided with means whereby the said coi s cannot be removed therefrom while it remains in the said box, lockin means for locking the said holder in said ox, said locking means including a key actuatable element and a locking plunger and means interposed between the said hey actuatable element and the said plunger whereby upon actuation of the said element the said plunger is moved into and out of locking position, and means for detachably connectin the said plunger and its holder to the said coil support.

10. Locking and controlling means for the ignition system of an automobile, comprising, in combination, coils, supporting means therefor, means for locking the said coils to the said su porting means, which locking means inclu cs a key actuatable element and a plunger, and a connection between the said key actuatable element and the said plunger whereby upon actuation of the former the latter is moved into and out of lockin position, yielding means tending to hold the said element in position with the said plunger in locking position, and means operating to hold the said element in one or more positions with the said plunger in unlocked position, the said last mentioned means becoming effective when-the said eleinent has been moved in one direction by a 11. Locking and controlling means for the ignition system of an automobile, comprising, in combination, two sources of electric current, coils with which each of said sources is adapted to be connected in circuit, a holder for the said coils, means for locking the said holder and the said coils in position which means includes a rotatable locking element and a plunger, and means interposed between the said element and the said plunger whereby rotation of the said element causes movement of said plunger into and out of locking position, yie ding means tending to hold the said rotatable element in position to hold the said plun er in locking position, means carried by t a said rotatable element for connecting either of the said sources of electric current in circuit with the said coils, and the said rotatable element carrying an are-shaped member which is curved about its axis and is provided with a slot having a con la of notches in one edge thereof, a yielda ly supported stop for engaging the said notches to hold the said rotatable element in either of two positions, the said stop being adapted to be moved inwardly to disengage the same from the said notches, and the said notches being so located that when one of them is engaged by the said stop one of the said sources of electric current is connected in circuit with said coils and when the other of said notches is engaged by the said stop the other of said soulrces is connected in circuit with the said 001 s.

12. Locking and controlling means for the ignition system of an automobile, comprising, in combination, two sources of electric current, coils, a support for the said coils, means for locking the said coils to the said support, which means includes a key actuatable rotatable element, a plunger, and means interposed between the said element and the said plunger whereby actuation of the former causes locking and unlocking movements of the said plunger, a casing within whichthe said element is located, bindin posts mounted upon and rojecting into t e said casing, one of which binding posts is connected to the said coils while the other two are connected respectively to the said source of electric current, a contact member one end of which is, at all times in contact with the first named binding post and the other end of which is adapted to contact with either one of the other of said binding sts upon rotation of the said rotatable e ement, an arcuate member carried by the said member and curved about the axis of said element, said member being provided with a slot having a couple of notches in one ed e thereof, a releasing plunger extending into the saidcasin in paral el relation to' the axis of the. sai rotatable element, the inner end of which releasing plunger is provided with a slot into which the said arcuate member projects, and the said plunger also having apm extending cross wise of said slot and through the slot in the said arcuate member. andmeans tending to hold the said releasing plunger in its outermost position to cause the said pin to engage the notches in the slot of the said arcuate member to hold the latter in either of two positions with one end of the contact member carried by the said rotatable element in contact with one or the other of the second named binding posts.

13. An. ignition system, comprising, in combination, coils, a holder for the said coils, said holder being provided with a base from which project upwardly two parallel spaced plates having upon the opposite sides of their upper dge'. portions horizon tally ext-ending projections, the said plat'es I z in the I said-holder. within; theafslaid box, 10

being so positionedms to permit. the: placing of a coil upon the base adjoining .egoh end 6 thereof outside of an adjoining-plaid,41nd the said platesbingspaced a d s'tanczapart to permit the placing of'one or more: coils between the, same, a boxgfor. the said holdiand the coi'ls'thereon; and nieans for lock- F testimony ithat' I ivclaixn, the ;foregoing as my invention I havev hereuntosignedmy name this 24th, day ofvFebrilalyAuDl, 1927;

WILSON- HEMINGWAY, J3. 

